The Coal Loader Centre for SustainabilityVENUE HIRE GUIDE

The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability

Located on the western side of the Waverton peninsula, just five minute’s walk from Waverton Station, the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability is the face of sustainability at North Sydney Council, It is a place to relax, interact, attend events, be inspired, grab a coffee or lunch, and learn.It is a platform for the delivery of a wide range of sustainability programs and a location where people can visit to be inspired to make change for sustainability in their lives.It is a community meeting point and hub for Council's extensive range of environmental and sustainability programs and a site with an interesting history as an ex-industrial coal bunkering site on Sydney Harbour.It has been transformed into a place which displays best-practice sustainable technology, community gardens, native bush nursery, food gardens, aboriginal heritage, regenerated parklands, rich history and stunning harbour views.

HISTORY

The Coal Loader is a unique site where many paths of history intersect. It was first a place of physical and spiritual sustenance for Aboriginal Australians, namely the Cammeraygal people who lived on the peninsula for thousands of years. Evidence of their presence in the form of a large rock carving can be seen on site.

From the early 1920s to the early 1990s the site primarily functioned as a transfer depot for coal from bulk carriers to smaller coal-fired vessels and other local markets. The elevated platform structure was used to accommodate the large coal stockpile. Beneath the platform are a series of tunnels, each with a number of chutes through which the coal was transferred into coal 'skips'. The skips operated on a cable-hauled railway system that ran as a continuous loop through the two westernmost tunnels and then out onto the finger wharf in Balls Head Bay, where they were loaded onto waiting steamers.

The site operated for over 70 years before being decommissioned. It was dedicated as public open space in 1997 and formally transferred to North Sydney Council in 2003. Council worked with a broad range of stakeholders to prepare plans for the site's transformation, and secured Federal, State and local funding. The Coal Loader was officially opened in July 2011, with the Coal Loader Platform opening in March 2018.

The Platform

The Platform is one of Sydney’s largest publicly accessible green roof spaces. The concrete and sandstone platform structure is one hectare in size and is designed to be a multi-purpose recreational space with spectacular views of the harbour.

Platform Areas

The Terrace & Heritage AreaCobblestones, concrete and metal grates make up the hard standing for the (approximately) 28m x 17m Terrace area. Three illuminated, fixed glass panels illustrate the history of the site, two ramps lead you to the colonnade and an undercover storage area and a steel staircase leads down to the lower catwalk.

Grass Lawn and hard standingThe lawn is a place where people can spread out and relax. The grass is fully irrigated and seven reed beds run along the eastern side of the lawn, catching and filtering the site’s rainwater. Hard standing (eg for stages and vendors) is afforded on the adjacent concrete and sandstone sections to the south.

The RampProviding good pedestrian and event vehicle access, the ramp provides excellent event participant orientation applications. The top of the ramp also has the space to accommodate stalls and artwork and is an ideal place to situate greeters for your event.

Platform Areas

The ColonnadeThe Western side of the Platform, a 154m-long walkway, is partially covered with semi-translucent solar panels for daytime shade and boasts stunning sunset views followed by fully controllable architectural lighting. Power can be readily accessed every 20m (approx).

Native Planting AreaA demonstration native garden area at the southern end of the platform provides guidance on the best local Australian plants for green-roof environments. Punctuating this haven are solar-tracking panels, providing much of the power for the site, which then also become a dramatic lighting feature in this space at night.

Urban Harvest PrecinctThe Eastern edge of the Platform is comprised of 42 urban harvest plots that are now home to a community garden initiative. The wicking bed raised plots are irrigated by recycled stormwater. In addition there are two aquaponics facilities, fruit trees and herb planters.

The Platform

IDEAL FORMarkets, festivals, open-air exhibitions, team building events, film projection etc

SIZE Approximately 10,000m2. Average of 180m x 55m

CAPACITYDependant on event type

HOURS OF USE8am – 10:30 pm (extension possible on approval)

SURFACE TYPESConcrete, grass, cobbles, crushed sandstone

ACCESSFoot: Via ramp, lift or stairs from street level. Vehicles: Via ramp from Balls Head Drive

TOILETS (located off the Platform)3 female, 3 male, 1 ambulant. Additional toilets can be hired for the space

THE PLATFORM - KEY1. The Terrace 2. The Heritage Area3. The Lawn4. Deco Granite 5. Hard standing6. The Colonnade7. The Ramp8. Native Planting Area9. Urban Harvest Precinct

10. West Apron11. Lower Catwalk

Tunnel One

Tunnel One The four 180 m- long, coal-loading tunnels, running parallel to each other under the platform have been refurbished and now serve very different purposes. Tunnel One now functions as an atmospheric, hireable, event space.

The Exhibition Space Featuring one of the original coal hoppers and skips, a raised viewing gantry, and a 5.5 m x 16m event area, this space is perfect for launch events, exhibitions, and awards.

The ChambersTwenty five interconnected chambers lead on from the exhibition space. Each chamber is approx 4.5 x 5 metres in size with three concrete walls, one exposed sandstone wall, and two irregular height doors connecting to the chambers either side. Every third chamber has an emergency exit door leading back onto the main tunnel. Each chamber has air ventilation, automatic lighting, and two thirds of the chambers have access to 10amp power.

Tunnel One

IDEAL FORExhibitions, private parties, awards ceremonies, team building events, photo/film location, film projection etc

VENUE CAPACITYDependant on event type

SIZEThe tunnel is 180 metres x 2.7m, and the 25 chambers are approx 4.5 x 5 m each

HOURS OF USE8am – 10:30 pm (extension may be possible on approval)

TOILETS (located on the main Coal Loader site and accessed via lift)3 female, 3 male, 1 ambulant. Additional toilets can be hired for the space

SURFACE TYPESCrushed sandstone, heritage-condition concrete surface, steel elevated platform

ACCESSVia lift or stairs from the platform, walk from Balls Head or Waterhen Drive.Private vehicle access via Waterhen Drive

KEY- TUNNEL ONE1. T1 Tunnel2. T1 Exhibition Space3. The Chambers4. Historical Display Area

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ACCESSIBILITY● The Platform has a entrance ramp to level access● The Platform and tunnels are accessible via the lift● An accessible public toilet is located next to the main office● Public toilets are located opposite the Coal Loader Café

SUSTAINABILITYThe Coal Loader is an active sustainability educational site. It is a platform for the delivery of a wide range of sustainability programs and a location where people can visit to be inspired to make change for sustainability in their lives. All events on site are strongly encouraged to address all of the sustainability pillars (environmental, economic, cultural, and social) of their on-site operation.

GEOGRAPHYThe Coal Loader sits on the western side of the Waverton peninsula. It is surrounded by Balls Head Bay on its western side, Balls Head Reserve to the South and Berrys Bay to the East and affords unparalleled views of Sydney Harbour.

Hire Fees

TUNNEL ONE

Monday to Friday 8.00am - 4.00pm

$85.00 per hour (incl GST)

Monday to Friday 4.00pm - 10.00pm

$110.00 per hour (incl GST)

Saturday and Sunday8.00am - 4.00pm

$150.00 per hour (incl GST)

Saturday and Sunday 4.00pm - 11.00pm

$250.00 per hour (incl GST)

Day rates apply for bookings longer than 2 consecutive days.

Price on application.

Bond $600.00 (incl GST)

Hire Fees

THE PLATFORM- PUBLIC EVENT PERMIT FEE

Refundable bond charges apply. Please contact the team to discuss.

Scale of Event Fee

Small EventUp to 50% of usable space on the Platform. A maximum of 5 fete stalls.

$550 per day (incl GST)

Medium EventUp to 50% of usable space on the Platform. A maximum of 30 fete stalls.

$5,500 per day (incl GST)

Large EventEvents using greater than 50% of the publicly available space on the site, or over 30 stalls, or commercially ticketed/restricted

By negotiation

Hire Fees

THE PLATFORM- PRIVATE EVENT PERMIT FEE

Refundable bond charges apply. Please contact the team to discuss.

Scale of Event Fee

Less than 60 peopleExclusive Use area 60 sqm

$370 per hour (incl GST)

61-100 peopleExclusive Use area 150 sqm

$530 per hour (incl GST)

101-150Exclusive Use area 200 sqm

$700 per hour. Min 5 hrs (incl GST)

150-300 By Negotiation

Hire Fees

THE GENIA MCCAFFERY BUILDING- PRIVATE EVENT

Minimum 2-hour bookingChairs and tables provided (limited numbers)Projector and screen facilities

Monday to Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm

$85.00 per hour (incl GST)

Monday to Friday 4.00pm - 10.00pm

$100.00 per hour (incl GST)

Saturday and Sunday10.00am - 4.00pm

$110.00 per hour (incl GST)

Saturday and Sunday 4.00pm - 11.00pm

$140.00 per hour (incl GST)

Bond $200.00 to $600 (incl GST)

Hire Fees

THE MESS HALL- PRIVATE EVENT

Minimum 2-hour bookingChairs and tables provided (limited numbers)

Monday to Friday 8.00am - 4.00pm

$85.00 per hour (incl GST)

Monday to Friday 4.00pm - 10.00pm

$100.00 per hour (incl GST)

Saturday and Sunday8.00am - 4.00pm

$110.00 per hour (incl GST)

Saturday and Sunday 4.00pm - 11.00pm

$140.00 per hour (incl GST)

Bond $200.00 to $600 (incl GST)

Location & TransportAddress: 2 Balls Head Drive, Waverton, 2060Walk – See North Sydney walking routesBike – secure bike parking available North Sydney Cycling Map (5MB)Train – a 7 minute walk to Waverton station (bikes carried free on weekends) Car - limited street parking on Balls Head Drive and Waterhen Drive Bus - drop off point is on Waterhen Drive, refer to this Site Map (1MB)Coach - drop-off point on Balls Head DriveShuttle - Shuttles to/from can be arranged for special events. Drop off and turning bay on Waterhen Drive.

CONTACT DETAILS

Events & Engagement OfficerCoal Loader Platform 02 9936 8226coalloader@northsydney.nsw.gov.au

The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability2 Balls Head DriveWaverton2060